Method and apparatus for erasure of data from a data storage device located on a vehicle
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- receiving, by an initiation device, a signal created by a triggering mechanism upon activation of the triggering mechanism by an operator of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises the initiation device, the triggering mechanism, a first data storage device storing sensitive information, and a second data storage device storing confidential information, and wherein the sensitive information and the confidential information were designated prior to deploying the vehicle; and
in response to receiving, by the initiation device, the signal created by the triggering mechanism, controlling a destruct device to destroy, using at least one of physical impact by a mechanical device, a software virus, a chemical, a chemical explosive, or a magnet, the sensitive information while leaving the second data storage device storing the confidential information intact.
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Abstract
A method and system for destroying information stored on a data storage device located onboard a vehicle in order to prevent unfriendly forces from obtaining the information is described. The method and system are initiated when the operator of the vehicle activates a triggering mechanism. The information may be destroyed by physically damaging the data storage device on which the information is stored or by releasing a software virus into the device on which the sensitive information is stored. A software virus may also be transmitted to a computer of an unfriendly force attempting to access the sensitive information.
14 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, by an initiation device, a signal created by a triggering mechanism upon activation of the triggering mechanism by an operator of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises the initiation device, the triggering mechanism, a first data storage device storing sensitive information, and a second data storage device storing confidential information, and wherein the sensitive information and the confidential information were designated prior to deploying the vehicle; and in response to receiving, by the initiation device, the signal created by the triggering mechanism, controlling a destruct device to destroy, using at least one of physical impact by a mechanical device, a software virus, a chemical, a chemical explosive, or a magnet, the sensitive information while leaving the second data storage device storing the confidential information intact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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prior to deploying a vehicle, designating sensitive information to be destroyed upon activation of a triggering mechanism; prior to deploying the vehicle, designating confidential information to be destroyed upon detection of unfriendly attempts to access the confidential information; storing the sensitive information on a first data storage device located onboard the vehicle; storing the confidential information on a second storage device located onboard the vehicle; receiving, by an initiation device, a signal from the triggering mechanism upon activation of the triggering mechanism by the operator; controlling, by the initiation device, in response to the signal from the triggering mechanism, a destruct device to destroy the sensitive information using a destruct device located near the first data storage device while leaving the confidential information intact; detecting, by a computing device, unfriendly attempts to access the confidential information stored on the second data storage device; and destroying, by the computing device, the confidential information in response to detecting unfriendly attempts to access the confidential information. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system
a first data storage device storing sensitive information, wherein the first data storage device is located in a vehicle; -
a second data storage device located in the vehicle, wherein the second data storage device stores confidential information; a triggering mechanism located on the vehicle; an initiation device coupled to the triggering mechanism; and a destruct device located in the vehicle, wherein the destruct device is selected from the group consisting of a chemical explosive, a chemical, a magnet, a computer virus, and a mechanical device that physically damages the first data storage device, wherein the initiation device activates the destruct device when the triggering mechanism is activated, and wherein the destruct device, when activated, is configured to destroy information stored on the first data storage device while leaving intact the second data storage device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification